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Marengo County Schools sign Teacher Connect agreement with UWA

WAW Admin
Marengo County Schools Superintendent Luke Hallmark (center) and MCS Board Member Arthur Hopson (left) sign the system's UWA Teacher Connect agreement to provide lowered tuition rates for teachers within the system who wish to pursue advanced degrees at the University of West Alabama. Pictured at right is Lisa Compton, UWA Online Recruiting Director. Standing, left to right, are MCS Technology Coordinator William Martin and Marengo County Federal Programs Coordinator Stephanie Pope.
Marengo County Schools Superintendent Luke Hallmark (center) and MCS Board Member Arthur Hopson (left) sign the system’s UWA Teacher Connect agreement to provide lowered tuition rates for teachers within the system who wish to pursue advanced degrees at the University of West Alabama. Pictured at right is Lisa Compton, UWA Online Recruiting Director. Standing, left to right, are MCS Technology Coordinator William Martin and Marengo County Federal Programs Coordinator Stephanie Pope.

LIVINGSTON — The University of West Alabama will now offer a unique opportunity for teachers in the Marengo County Schools system who would like to further their education by pursuing a master’s or education specialist degree. Through the UWA Teacher Connect program designed for Marengo County, teachers can receive financial assistance for online studies.

For the system’s teachers, participation in the program, which leads to advanced degrees in education, can qualify for a discount of $200 per credit hour on their tuition. They can choose from UWA’s 38 master’s and education specialist degrees. With accelerated online terms, teachers can easily earn their advanced degrees in two years.

For educators, advanced degrees can lead to salary increases. An added benefit is that teachers can work to increase the amount or retirement income they will receive. The benefits of the UWA Teacher Connect program extend beyond the teachers, though.

Students also see the benefit of their teachers’ participation and completion of degree programs made available through UWA Teacher Connect. Their teachers are exposed to the latest technology and trends in education, thus providing them with an educational experience that better prepares them for college.

In fact, school systems are improved exponentially when faculty hold higher-level degrees. Participation in programs such as this allows the school system to recruit new faculty based on this benefit, and the overall atmosphere of learning and teaching is enhanced. Through UWA Connect, systems like Marengo County can increase faculty retention by providing this kind of opportunity not available in other systems.

For more information on UWA Teacher Connect and its benefits for Marengo County, contact UWA Online Recruiting Director Lisa Compton at 205-652-5445 or lcompton@uwa.edu or Online Admissions Counselor Byron Thetford at 205-652-3876 or bthetford@uwa.edu.